YOU COULDN’T BE A ‘NISA’ GUY

Steve’s journey began when he joined the shop at the young age of 15, right after leaving school. For almost four decades, he faithfully woke up at the crack of dawn to ensure the latest newspapers were ready before the town even stirred.

Those who remember the good old days will recall the quaint newsagents with a charming wooden till. As time passed, Steve transformed the shop into a mini-supermarket, offering local produce, fresh coffee, and a friendly smile. In the early days, it was just Steve and his wife, Tonia, diligently stocking the shelves and serving the locals. They worked from 5 am till 10 pm until they finally hired staff in 2007!

Steve’s commitment to the shop and the community has been unwavering, creating a special place where people can gather, share stories, and enjoy the comforts of a local store run with heart and passion. “My dad bought the shop in 1971. I started in 1976.” Steve explained. “I bought it off him in 1986 and then went on to buy the carpet shop next door so we could extend the shop, and in 2004, we became a franchisee of Nisa.”

“Colne’s a friendly, special and all-round good place. I’ve loved working here.”

As he approached his 62nd birthday in July, Steve decided he’d had enough, and who could blame him? “I’m looking forward to going out and not having an eye on my watch, thinking I must be up early!” Any Burnley fans looking forward to being back in the Premier League this season will agree with Steve’s second piece of reasoning: “I want to watch Match of the Day on a Saturday for once!”Monday, 24th July, was Steve’s last day, with Tom Ormerod and Rob Shaw being the men set to carry the torch.“They’re not staying with Nisa,” Steve explains. “I’d expect a more modern feel to the place. There’ll be a change. I think they’ll start opening later. I hope they keep up the shop’s tradition.” Being a local lad, Steve shared with me the rewarding feeling of giving back to the people he’s known so well. “I was brought up in Colne, so I’ve always known everyone. I joined Colne Cricket Club at an early age, played cricket for a long time and met many locals there. Colne’s a friendly, special and all-round good place. I’ve loved working here.”All of us at Colne Life would like to thank Steve for his outstanding efforts to the community over the years. We hope he enjoys transitioning from cold, early mornings in the shop to well-deserved, long lie-ins!

Colne Life Autumn 23